Issues and Campaigns

2018 CAMPAIGNS

We are still campaigning for fair and affordable Retirement housing. See how we score each major party on their election promises.

Consumer Action Law Centre, Retirement Villages Victoria, Housing for the Aged Action Group and COTA are still waiting on Labor to announce its plan to provide free, fair and binding dispute resolution in the Retirement housing sector.

2016 CAMPAIGNS

Retirement Villages Campaign

Previous campaigns

In 2013 COTA welcomed the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Opportunities for Participation of Victorian Seniors. This landmark report, made 40 recommendations including the appointment of a Commissioner for Senior Victorians. Campaigned for the adoption of key recommendations.

5 Responses to Issues and Campaigns

I wish to support your call for improved housing for senior citizens – I believe the government should be providing affordable cost retirement villages – these villages provide community and all the needs for the elderly – lonelieness in the suburbs creates endless health and mental problems and ever increasing costs for services

– the spinoff of this idea would be more housing for families – imagine how many 3 and 4 bedroom houses are occupied by one or two elderly citizens.

I recognize that there is a vibrant Retirement Village industry but by and large quality residences are very expensive – the lifestyle is excellent mainly due to the community values built up by the residents. The owners of these villages are sheep in wolves clothing –

* they are dealing with senior citizens who are often unwell – the sheer
idea of moving house is unsettling
* the contracts they are asked to sign are a legal minefield
* the sales staff often apply pressure to make decisions
* the houses they are building do not take into account the present or future
needs of the elderly – e.g. steps at all door entrance and exits, low
toilets, high cupboards and low cupboards where you can’t bend
down to gain access. Passages, entrance and exit doors only just
wide enough for walkers, wheelchairs or persons on crutches – I
believe there needs to be a special building code for villages – I
would refer you to “The Age” Saturday January 22, 2011 – Insight 22
Paying a High Price to retire –
Add to all this there is no real care in many Retirement Villages – we
are continually being reminded that we are in an independent living
retirement village – if you are taken ill the Manager will call the
Ambulance – the whole responsibility is thrown onto the Ambulance
and then the Emergency Departments of Hospitals – therefore
clogging up these services and adding huge costs to our Health
system – there must be a better way to provide answers for
sometimes simple problems.
I will be interested to have your comments on my observations,
thankyou for the opportunity to express my views. Yours sincerely,
Audrey Mutton

Thanks for your comments and support for our call for better housing for older people.
We are particularly disappointed that the the previous Government’s proposed universal housing regulations did not get through before the election.
This measure would have addressed the issues you raise, and many more.

Would Cota put on the Agenda the Governments intention to further fiddle with the Rules for Superannuation, which will dramatically affect the income and ability of all those retired to Access lump sums, and Tax Pensions. The whole idea of super was for those who prudently provided for their retirement, giving up many things in their working life to ensure this position, is going to be threatened. The danger is the Government will again use an arbitrary calculation to separate the so called rich from the rest – picking a cut off point to catch the majority, satisfying the majority that this position is for the National Interest and those above this amount are wealthy and can afford to pay more. It is COTA’S responsibility to inform all its members of the push by Government, Unions and Economists to attack a fundamental right of retired Australians to leave our superannuation alone at all levels.

Hi Tony
Superannuation is a key issue on our national agenda. The COTA National officers are involved in discussions with the Government and the Opposition through a number of forums. We know that tax concessions for superannuation are being looked at by both the Government and the Coalition. The discussion seems to be around concessions for the very high earners.
In our Federal Budget submission we asked for reinstatement of the $50,000 cap on concessional contributions for the over 50s and changes to regulation to allow greater competition for post retirement products.